Lamin Yamal Has revealed he has not been feeling well this season, but says he is finally enjoying football again Scored the first hat-trick of his career In barcelona‘S 4-1 victory over Villarreal In LaLiga on Saturday.
Yamal scored twice in the first half at the Spotify Camp Nou and then scored twice after the break to become the first 18-year-old to score a treble in the Spanish top flight since 1967.
However, speaking after the game, he said he had struggled to get going during the current campaign for a number of reasons, before now feeling better heading into the final stages of the season.
“I didn’t feel very good [earlier this season],” Yamal told Movistar. ”There was [groin] The problem and, in general, I was not happy. It was a combination of many things. you can tell.
“For about a week now I’ve been feeling much better. I smile when I’m playing, which I haven’t for a while, and I’m happy on the field.”
Despite those issues, Yamal has still been one of Barca’s better performers this season and after Saturday’s hat-trick, he is their top scorer with 18 goals in 34 appearances in all competitions.
This matches his total all last season – in 21 fewer games.
Only two players have recorded a hat trick at a younger age, although you have to go back almost 100 years to find them: José Irragorri at 17 years and 337 days in 1930 and Pablo Pombo at 18 years and 200 days in 1934.
“I’m scoring more goals all the time,” he said. “At 16 years old people already want you to score 100 goals and it’s difficult. … I want to score more, but it’s not always possible.”
Asked about the issues that have prevented Yamal from enjoying football this season, Barca coach Hansi Flick pointed to a change in the way defenders mark him.
“The opponent sometimes plays two or three players against him,” Flick said. “You could feel that at times he didn’t have the confidence, didn’t have the mobility against a situation.
“I’m happy for today, it will give him confidence and when he enjoys playing, it’s perfect for him and for us too.”
Yamal’s first goal came after being fed fermin lopezWith his second brilliant strike after dribbling past two Villarreal players.
Pep Gueye brought Villarreal back into the match before Yamal restored Barca’s two-goal lead with a substitute strike Robert Lewandowski Completing the scoring late.
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With this win, Barca has got a lead of four points. real Madrid –Who is the host? jetafe on Monday – but the Catalan side are now turning their attention to copa del rey when they welcome Atletico Madrid In the second leg of their semi-final.
Atletico won the first leg 4-0Barca have been left with a mountain to climb, but Flick says that with Yamal in form thus far, anything is possible.
“I think everyone saw his performance today,” he said. “First [goal] He needed to come into the game and what happened next was extraordinary.
“Lemin is fantastic for us at this level. We need him at this level on Tuesday. That’s what I want to see.”
